The Perilous Pathetic PandemicAre the media and government in America and China overreacting and causing schemed fear due to the "deadly" H1N1 virus and how are they?
Preface
My key research question connects and relates to the rest of my project fairly well because this does follow with the mediums that I had picked to use. It also binds to my project because I use research as well as some biased opinion on both sides to send a message and answer the question. This question does very much relate to me and my life because my school was about to close at one point and my mother always warns me about this flu all the time.
Some information that would be helpful to you when reading my project is that I am combating the conditions during mid-August (which was when I had first got and created the question). So the government and media are taking a new path toward combating the H1N1 flu compared to the time I am talking about. The time period I was really concerned toward was when the flu had first made it's debut to the open world. Also, this flu is a modern outbreak that is causing many problems, less now than before, but was essentially considered to be a flu that would cause millions and millions of deaths.
Genre #1
For the first genre, I was instructed to write a research paper concerning my question. Within this research paper, I strictly answer my question with many actual happenings and real information. It informs the reader about much of the general knowledge of the flu and what had exactly happened within the small period of time of when the outbreak had occurred.
Fearing the "Truth"
Fear is caused by human deceptions often induced by a belief that something is dangerous. Throughout history, pandemics have caused fear to people throughout the world. But is it the fear of the negative statistics and facts that the people are given or is it fear that is caused by the media and government? Most recently, we have encountered the new “swine flu pandemic,” which put most of the world on their heels. The outbreak of this flu cause some to say that the swine flu is taken too seriously by the media and government and cause unnecessary fear, but some consider it to be a precautionary step because it could mutate into something deadlier.
The media does affect the people’s way of thinking and generates a great deal of fear. However, the H1N1 influenza was predicted to kill around 10,000 by now, but only have around 2,500 fatalities by august 8th (H1N1 (swine flu) Virus). The media did correctly predict that the H1N1 would spread quickly, but did not stress nor mention the fact that it is weaker than the common cold. Some articles did state this, but had countered it with many arguments claiming that the flu can mutate to become very deadly. This caused some countries to react by placing the army on the streets of America in some cities (Jones). However these efforts will most likely not yield the desired results and unfortunately this type of movement wasn’t the first.
Also, the present day scare makes us reminisce on the previous bird flu. This flu was predicted to be the flu to kill us all. However, it did not even get close to that prediction because it was weak and remained that way. After many previous occurrences and such, more of the public do agree with the idea that the media has overblown the H1N1 virus. This only tends to anger the people and doesn’t really help to prevent the spread of the flu.
An adage says that one can never be too careful. Yes, the media may overreact to influenza A for protection just in case the flu does mutate into something deadly. Not only this, but Obama had reinforced this point that this may turn into something that our medicines and doctors can’t handle (Cordes). However, the people that are: sixty and over, five and younger, or are lung disease carriers have the worst situation when catching the flu (Edmonds). However, in America, most students are getting forced vaccinations that may occupy unknown side-effects. This is why many doctors are refusing to have these and inject them into patients. Its like preventing a small flu to occur, but by putting someone’s life at risk in the process. Obviously the majority of the people would not take this vaccination, but the governments could possibly force them to do so.
The media does play a large role in how government react because if it didn’t all the countries would be reacting the same way. America may not be doing this right now, but before they were closing schools if students had caught swine flu. Five hundred thirty-three schools were closed at one point and leaving 330,000 students at home when they were healthy. The Chinese had taken even more evasive action, which was not considered to be the best reaction to stop the flu. They had removed Mexicans from the country that did not even have the symptoms for the H1N1 flu. Also, people were locked into a hotel to be quarantined due to the fact that one person that was found with the flu (China's Swift Reaction To H1N1 - Video). These reactions were based due to the many negative statistics given by the media.
The government’s of America and China are taking unbearable actions that aren’t accepted by the people. These reactions may be viewed in different perspectives and can be beneficial or considered to be an annoyance and overreaction by the media over a small fast spreading flu. The two work like a cause and effect and does cause disorder and fear. However, the world will find order again with the use of the media or through the disappearance of the flu itself.
Works Cited
Acheco, Paul, and David Stark. "H1N1 FLU VIRUS NOT AN EXTREMELY SERIOUS CONDITION, MOST DOCTORS SAY." TNS Global Website. 29 May 2009. 8 Sep. 2009 <www.tnsglobal.com/news/news-EE863C05C5A34D83A16BC4E61966C884.aspx>.
For my second genre, I had chose to write multiple diaries/journals to show two different people's perspectives on the topic and also a detailed showing of how governments are handling the flu. I had chose this medium because my question is very opinion based so they can give better personal perspective on this topic and beliefs of a normal person. I also twisted some true information to help get their thoughts out. The first two diaries are about one man that is Thirty-four year old man that is married with kids and has a well paying job. He is on a vacation, but is interrupted due to the swine flu outbreak and is quarantined inside his own hotel room. The third and fourth diaries are about a young mom with a child that is five years old and is very thankful for this governmental reaction because she learns about a shocking truth. Hate It or Love It
POV 1
- 34 year old man
- has wife and children
- with a job
May 1, 2009,
Oh what has this world come to...
I had reluctantly decided to come to China to enjoy a nice vacation with my family during my time off work and now I’m stuck here in my hotel room thanks to a flu that I don’t even have symptoms for. And I’m told to stay calm for a few days because the Chinese government decided to quarantine an entire hotel because one, ONE person was diagnosed with the oh so deadly H1N1 flu. Not only this, but the doctors are forcing us to wear these stupid drab suits that make us look like aliens or astronauts. For heaven’s sake just let us out! From what I heard, this won’t kill me nor most of the tourists stuck in the hotel...
May 8,2009
Seven. Seven fucking days that I had to stay in that damned hotel. And you know what? They ended up finding that one out of the three hundred or so people in that hotel was found ill due to the flu... Also if the sources state the truth, stopping the flu from entering the country eternally would almost be impossible, if that was their ultimate goal in executing this outrageous action.
What these people have is paranoia, due to a outbreak of a fast growing rarely dangerous flu which is very much like the previous epidemics...This was just a waste of my time, waste of the government’s money, and had fluttered away my precious vacation.
POV 2
- Young mother around 25
- child that is 5 years old
September 12, 2009
I drove my son to school for his first day of kindergarden, but the split second we entered the school premisses, we were encountered by a massive lady in white with a very daunting mask covering half of her face. She came over and took my child’s temperature and told us to follow her...I was so confused...Then they took my son into a room and told me to wait...it was so nerve-racking... Soon a nurse came out to inform me that my son had caught swine flu. I had fell silent in awe, but within seconds I started to harass the doctor with questions. Thanking, with all gratitude, appreciation, bless the lord, that he said my son would be okay. I can’t thank the government enough for taking these instantaneous actions. :)
September 29, 2009
Well, my son is now healthy and I still and can’t stop thanking the government for having that law and taking temperatures at school. Who would’ve thought that my son had swine flu...I knew about his sickness, but didn’t for a second believe that swine flu was what he had caught. It sort of haunts me to know that swine flu could really affect my life after only hearing so much on the news. The news had kept telling us how to prevent ourselves from getting it and how it is still spreading around the world at a rapid pace. I never believed that such improbable events would become part of my life... Well, I guess it can.
Works Cited
Weissert, Will. "Quarantined: My 7 days stuck in Chinese hotel - Swine flu- msnbc.com." Breaking News, Weather, Business, Health, Entertainment, Sports, Politics, Travel, Science, Technology, Local, US & World News- msnbc.com. 18 May 2009. 11 Oct. 2009 <http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30812252/>.
GENRE #3
For the third and final genre, I had chose to make a parody like news cast on H1N1. This news cast includes the issue at hand. It shows how the media plays a role in the fear factor of the H1N1 flu outbreak. However, this news cast is a bit overplayed to show how the media does effect how and what the people believe about the crisis. Also, this genre will inform the viewer of my position on the topic.
Warning: What is shown here isn't what a real news program would run the news. However, the news do include small biased comments in their cast and is magnified to help understand why the media would take a role in this reaction. Opinionated News
Today, outbreaks of the growing H1N1 flu are continually occurring and one more is found dead.
Hello everyone I am Terry Kim and this KCAL 9 News at 10.
Our top story and the only story at 10 is the constant outbreak of the H1N1 flu. This was our topic yesterday, but, the H1N1 flu is a very serious issue that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Or this will become THE pandemic of the 21st century. The people with H1N1 flu has had increased its numbers by 30% in the US IN ONE DAY. Woah...This flu is contagious!... Not only has the numbers increased, another victim of the flu has been found. Terrible news to report, but a 22-month old baby was the next victim of this terrible flu...However this growing terror can be slowed and maybe even stopped.
We have a doctor here with us today to tell us more about how to prevent this flu.
Hello nice to have you here, Nirry Kim.
No problem
Well, this flu is growing at an extraordinarily scary rate. Is there any possible way to slow this down??
Yes of course. As an individual you can wear these masks and wash your hands like this.
(Scrub Scrub scrub. Wash your hands a lot and keep washing them for a long while.
haha phew. I never knew washing hands could be so excruciating.)
hahah Also, if you do feel like you have a cold or fever, do go to a doctor immediately. Just following these few steps can make a big difference and slow this bad boy down.
We do have too little people washing their hands... Well, Thank you for the information Nirry.
BYE
Now that we know how to stop the flu from getting to us, lets learn how the government is trying to stop spread of the flu around the country. To start off, the government had closed many buildings and even streets due to finding cases of the flu. Well we got Scott Lee out on the streets of Los Angeles to tell us more about what’s happening. Hey Scott.
Thanks. Well I'm in front of a school that has recently closed down due to swine flu. Multiple schools all over California and the US has been closed down. Elementary, Middle, and High schools were closed due to this epidemic. Hopefully this will allow for the healthy to check up at the doctor’s just in case. Well right now not much is going on, but if you can behind me many people are wearing warm clothes and wearing masks. I should join them...Well back to you Terry.
Thanks Scott.
And that will do it for today’s news at ten and This is Terry Kim. We know that you have many choices for news thank you for choosing KCAL 9. Have a nice day everybody.
Epilogue
After completing this project, I had learned many things. I had learned more about my project such as how government reacted. I had knew they closed down many schools, but never knew that they had quarantined an entire hotel to stop it from entering the country. Not only this, but learning that were army men roaming the streets was also a first for me. I not only learned information, but I had learned a lot about my own writing. When I write quickly, I tend to leave many words out and make the writing very confusing. It also doesn't have good sentence fluency.
My perspective on this topic hasn't really changed greatly, but had allowed me to look and understand the other side of the story without biased opinion. I had always believed that the media played too big of a role in how people think and especially resulting in the making of paranoid people. I hope people do understand both sides, but ultimately understand that the government reaction is just overboard to a minor flu. I also want them to learn more about this flu and how the media and government connects to us.
Table of Contents
Preface
My key research question connects and relates to the rest of my project fairly well because this does follow with the mediums that I had picked to use. It also binds to my project because I use research as well as some biased opinion on both sides to send a message and answer the question. This question does very much relate to me and my life because my school was about to close at one point and my mother always warns me about this flu all the time.
Some information that would be helpful to you when reading my project is that I am combating the conditions during mid-August (which was when I had first got and created the question). So the government and media are taking a new path toward combating the H1N1 flu compared to the time I am talking about. The time period I was really concerned toward was when the flu had first made it's debut to the open world. Also, this flu is a modern outbreak that is causing many problems, less now than before, but was essentially considered to be a flu that would cause millions and millions of deaths.
Genre #1
For the first genre, I was instructed to write a research paper concerning my question. Within this research paper, I strictly answer my question with many actual happenings and real information. It informs the reader about much of the general knowledge of the flu and what had exactly happened within the small period of time of when the outbreak had occurred.Fearing the "Truth"
Fear is caused by human deceptions often induced by a belief that something is dangerous. Throughout history, pandemics have caused fear to people throughout the world. But is it the fear of the negative statistics and facts that the people are given or is it fear that is caused by the media and government? Most recently, we have encountered the new “swine flu pandemic,” which put most of the world on their heels. The outbreak of this flu cause some to say that the swine flu is taken too seriously by the media and government and cause unnecessary fear, but some consider it to be a precautionary step because it could mutate into something deadlier.
The media does affect the people’s way of thinking and generates a great deal of fear. However, the H1N1 influenza was predicted to kill around 10,000 by now, but only have around 2,500 fatalities by august 8th (H1N1 (swine flu) Virus). The media did correctly predict that the H1N1 would spread quickly, but did not stress nor mention the fact that it is weaker than the common cold. Some articles did state this, but had countered it with many arguments claiming that the flu can mutate to become very deadly. This caused some countries to react by placing the army on the streets of America in some cities (Jones). However these efforts will most likely not yield the desired results and unfortunately this type of movement wasn’t the first.
Also, the present day scare makes us reminisce on the previous bird flu. This flu was predicted to be the flu to kill us all. However, it did not even get close to that prediction because it was weak and remained that way. After many previous occurrences and such, more of the public do agree with the idea that the media has overblown the H1N1 virus. This only tends to anger the people and doesn’t really help to prevent the spread of the flu.
An adage says that one can never be too careful. Yes, the media may overreact to influenza A for protection just in case the flu does mutate into something deadly. Not only this, but Obama had reinforced this point that this may turn into something that our medicines and doctors can’t handle (Cordes). However, the people that are: sixty and over, five and younger, or are lung disease carriers have the worst situation when catching the flu (Edmonds). However, in America, most students are getting forced vaccinations that may occupy unknown side-effects. This is why many doctors are refusing to have these and inject them into patients. Its like preventing a small flu to occur, but by putting someone’s life at risk in the process. Obviously the majority of the people would not take this vaccination, but the governments could possibly force them to do so.
The media does play a large role in how government react because if it didn’t all the countries would be reacting the same way. America may not be doing this right now, but before they were closing schools if students had caught swine flu. Five hundred thirty-three schools were closed at one point and leaving 330,000 students at home when they were healthy. The Chinese had taken even more evasive action, which was not considered to be the best reaction to stop the flu. They had removed Mexicans from the country that did not even have the symptoms for the H1N1 flu. Also, people were locked into a hotel to be quarantined due to the fact that one person that was found with the flu (China's Swift Reaction To H1N1 - Video). These reactions were based due to the many negative statistics given by the media.
The government’s of America and China are taking unbearable actions that aren’t accepted by the people. These reactions may be viewed in different perspectives and can be beneficial or considered to be an annoyance and overreaction by the media over a small fast spreading flu. The two work like a cause and effect and does cause disorder and fear. However, the world will find order again with the use of the media or through the disappearance of the flu itself.
Works Cited
Acheco, Paul, and David Stark. "H1N1 FLU VIRUS NOT AN EXTREMELY SERIOUS CONDITION, MOST DOCTORS SAY." TNS Global Website. 29 May 2009. 8 Sep. 2009 <www.tnsglobal.com/news/news-EE863C05C5A34D83A16BC4E61966C884.aspx>.
Ballantyne, Coco. "H1N1 hullabaloo: Overreaction or prudent caution?: Scientific American Blog." Science News, Articles and Information | Scientific American. 8 May 2009. 8 Sep. 2009 <http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/60-second-science/post.cfm?id=h1n1-hullabaloo-overreaction-or-pru-2009-05-08>.
"China's Swift Reaction To H1N1 - Video." Metacafe-CBS. 17 Sep. 2009. 13 Sep. 2009 <http://www.metacafe.com/watch/cb-JfiI8GTEsysWYpjujPIm0mu2Gl1Axiir/chinas_swift_reaction_to_h1n1/>.
Cordes, Nancy . "H1N1: Preparing For The Worst." YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.. 1 May 2009. 24 Aug. 2009 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ir2V5X3wYEc>.
Edmonds, Molly. "HowStuffWorks "Swine Flu History"." Howstuffworks "Health". 8 Sep. 2009 <http://health.howstuffworks.com/swine-flu1.htm>.
"H1N1 (swine flu) Virus." H1N1 (swine flu) Virus. 21 Aug. 2009. 8 Sep. 2009 <http://h1n1.flu-virus.org/H1N1.php/>.
Jones, Alex. "Alex Jones Exposes the H1N1 Flu Hoax - Pt2." YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.. 3 May 2009. 28 Aug. 2009 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmNdAoOCRWY>.
GENRE #2
For my second genre, I had chose to write multiple diaries/journals to show two different people's perspectives on the topic and also a detailed showing of how governments are handling the flu. I had chose this medium because my question is very opinion based so they can give better personal perspective on this topic and beliefs of a normal person. I also twisted some true information to help get their thoughts out. The first two diaries are about one man that is Thirty-four year old man that is married with kids and has a well paying job. He is on a vacation, but is interrupted due to the swine flu outbreak and is quarantined inside his own hotel room. The third and fourth diaries are about a young mom with a child that is five years old and is very thankful for this governmental reaction because she learns about a shocking truth.Hate It or Love It
POV 1
- 34 year old man
- has wife and children
- with a job
May 1, 2009,
Oh what has this world come to...
I had reluctantly decided to come to China to enjoy a nice vacation with my family during my time off work and now I’m stuck here in my hotel room thanks to a flu that I don’t even have symptoms for. And I’m told to stay calm for a few days because the Chinese government decided to quarantine an entire hotel because one, ONE person was diagnosed with the oh so deadly H1N1 flu. Not only this, but the doctors are forcing us to wear these stupid drab suits that make us look like aliens or astronauts. For heaven’s sake just let us out! From what I heard, this won’t kill me nor most of the tourists stuck in the hotel...
May 8,2009
Seven. Seven fucking days that I had to stay in that damned hotel. And you know what? They ended up finding that one out of the three hundred or so people in that hotel was found ill due to the flu... Also if the sources state the truth, stopping the flu from entering the country eternally would almost be impossible, if that was their ultimate goal in executing this outrageous action.
What these people have is paranoia, due to a outbreak of a fast growing rarely dangerous flu which is very much like the previous epidemics...This was just a waste of my time, waste of the government’s money, and had fluttered away my precious vacation.
POV 2
- Young mother around 25
- child that is 5 years old
September 12, 2009
I drove my son to school for his first day of kindergarden, but the split second we entered the school premisses, we were encountered by a massive lady in white with a very daunting mask covering half of her face. She came over and took my child’s temperature and told us to follow her...I was so confused...Then they took my son into a room and told me to wait...it was so nerve-racking... Soon a nurse came out to inform me that my son had caught swine flu. I had fell silent in awe, but within seconds I started to harass the doctor with questions. Thanking, with all gratitude, appreciation, bless the lord, that he said my son would be okay. I can’t thank the government enough for taking these instantaneous actions. :)
September 29, 2009
Well, my son is now healthy and I still and can’t stop thanking the government for having that law and taking temperatures at school. Who would’ve thought that my son had swine flu...I knew about his sickness, but didn’t for a second believe that swine flu was what he had caught. It sort of haunts me to know that swine flu could really affect my life after only hearing so much on the news. The news had kept telling us how to prevent ourselves from getting it and how it is still spreading around the world at a rapid pace. I never believed that such improbable events would become part of my life... Well, I guess it can.
Works Cited
Weissert, Will. "Quarantined: My 7 days stuck in Chinese hotel - Swine flu- msnbc.com." Breaking News, Weather, Business, Health, Entertainment, Sports, Politics, Travel, Science, Technology, Local, US & World News- msnbc.com. 18 May 2009. 11 Oct. 2009 <http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30812252/>.GENRE #3
For the third and final genre, I had chose to make a parody like news cast on H1N1. This news cast includes the issue at hand. It shows how the media plays a role in the fear factor of the H1N1 flu outbreak. However, this news cast is a bit overplayed to show how the media does effect how and what the people believe about the crisis. Also, this genre will inform the viewer of my position on the topic.Warning: What is shown here isn't what a real news program would run the news. However, the news do include small biased comments in their cast and is magnified to help understand why the media would take a role in this reaction.
Opinionated News
H1N1 OPINIATED NEWS
by t2kterrykim
Today, outbreaks of the growing H1N1 flu are continually occurring and one more is found dead.
Hello everyone I am Terry Kim and this KCAL 9 News at 10.
Our top story and the only story at 10 is the constant outbreak of the H1N1 flu. This was our topic yesterday, but, the H1N1 flu is a very serious issue that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Or this will become THE pandemic of the 21st century. The people with H1N1 flu has had increased its numbers by 30% in the US IN ONE DAY. Woah...This flu is contagious!... Not only has the numbers increased, another victim of the flu has been found. Terrible news to report, but a 22-month old baby was the next victim of this terrible flu...However this growing terror can be slowed and maybe even stopped.
We have a doctor here with us today to tell us more about how to prevent this flu.
Hello nice to have you here, Nirry Kim.
No problem
Well, this flu is growing at an extraordinarily scary rate. Is there any possible way to slow this down??
Yes of course. As an individual you can wear these masks and wash your hands like this.
(Scrub Scrub scrub. Wash your hands a lot and keep washing them for a long while.
haha phew. I never knew washing hands could be so excruciating.)
hahah Also, if you do feel like you have a cold or fever, do go to a doctor immediately. Just following these few steps can make a big difference and slow this bad boy down.
We do have too little people washing their hands... Well, Thank you for the information Nirry.
BYE
Now that we know how to stop the flu from getting to us, lets learn how the government is trying to stop spread of the flu around the country. To start off, the government had closed many buildings and even streets due to finding cases of the flu. Well we got Scott Lee out on the streets of Los Angeles to tell us more about what’s happening. Hey Scott.
Thanks. Well I'm in front of a school that has recently closed down due to swine flu. Multiple schools all over California and the US has been closed down. Elementary, Middle, and High schools were closed due to this epidemic. Hopefully this will allow for the healthy to check up at the doctor’s just in case. Well right now not much is going on, but if you can behind me many people are wearing warm clothes and wearing masks. I should join them...Well back to you Terry.
Thanks Scott.
And that will do it for today’s news at ten and This is Terry Kim. We know that you have many choices for news thank you for choosing KCAL 9. Have a nice day everybody.
Epilogue
After completing this project, I had learned many things. I had learned more about my project such as how government reacted. I had knew they closed down many schools, but never knew that they had quarantined an entire hotel to stop it from entering the country. Not only this, but learning that were army men roaming the streets was also a first for me. I not only learned information, but I had learned a lot about my own writing. When I write quickly, I tend to leave many words out and make the writing very confusing. It also doesn't have good sentence fluency.My perspective on this topic hasn't really changed greatly, but had allowed me to look and understand the other side of the story without biased opinion. I had always believed that the media played too big of a role in how people think and especially resulting in the making of paranoid people. I hope people do understand both sides, but ultimately understand that the government reaction is just overboard to a minor flu. I also want them to learn more about this flu and how the media and government connects to us.
Cited Pictures
http://hubpages.com/hub/Stay-Safe-From-The-H1N1-Mexican-Swine-Flu-Sharp-Plasmacluster
http://www.jphpk.gov.my/English/UPDATE%20SWINE%20FLU.htm
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/09/08/earlyshow/health/main5293610.shtml
http://www.army.mil/-news/2009/04/30/20356-h1n1-flu-procedures-in-place-to-care-for-personnel-in-the-benelux/
http://thebirdflupandemic.com/archives/is-the-h1n1-swine-flu-becoming-more-deadly
http://www.buncombecounty.org/GOVERNING/depts/Health/H1N1.asp